GILGIT: A two-member Pakistani expedition of Sirbaz Khan and Abdul Joshi from Gilgit-Baltistan left for Nepal on Thursday to scale Annapurna (8091 metres) peak.

The expedition has dedicated this adventure to late Mohammad Ali Sadpara who lost his life on K2 in February this year.

The team leader Sirbaz Khan and member Abdul Joshi from Hunza district of GB and two supporting members Kamran Ali and Saad Munawar departed from Islamabad airport to Kathmandu on Thursday.

Sirbaz Khan said this Annapurna expedition was representing the underprivileged mountaineering community of Pakistan. He said they had dedicated this expedition to Mohammad Ali Sadpara.

“For the last few years, we had been working together with Ali Bhai for the welfare of Pakistani mountaineering community.

He might not be physically present anymore, but in my heart he is always going to be alive…singing, laughing and dancing,” he said.

Sirbaz Khan requested for prayers for a successful summit. He lauded the sponsors for their support for the promotion of mountaineering in Pakistan.

Earlier, the team had started fundraising for the adventure. According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Sirbaz Khan and Abdul Joshi called on federal minister for inter-provincial coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza in Islamabad on Wednesday.

On this occasion, the minister presented Pakistani flag to Sirbaz Khan to hoist it at the Annapurna peak. Dr Mirza said the government was taking all possible measures to promote sports at grassroots level to nurture young talent who could bring glory to the name of Pakistan and promote its good image globally.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2021